Is the Goldbach Conjecture part of a larger pattern?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the possibility of extending the Goldbach Conjecture to include even numbers that are the midpoint of two primes differing by 4n+2. While this conjecture often fails for smaller numbers, there are examples where it seems to hold true. However, further testing shows that there are many exceptions to this conjecture, with a significant number of exceptions even for relatively small numbers.
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raycb
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I wonder if the Goldbach Conjecture could be extended, so that the even number halfway between two primes that differ by 4n + 2 can be written as the sum of two primes from pairs that differ by 4n + 2? This conjecture often fails for the first few numbers, but then seems to begin working.

For example, the midpoint of 3 and 13 is 8, which cannot be written as the sum of two primes from pairs that differ by 10, but the midpoint of 103 and 113 is 108, which can be written as the sum of 29 and 89, which come from the pairs 19 and 29, and 79 and 89.
 
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raycb said:
I wonder if the Goldbach Conjecture could be extended, so that the even number halfway between two primes that differ by 4n + 2 can be written as the sum of two primes from pairs that differ by 4n + 2? This conjecture often fails for the first few numbers, but then seems to begin working.

For example, the midpoint of 3 and 13 is 8, which cannot be written as the sum of two primes from pairs that differ by 10, but the midpoint of 103 and 113 is 108, which can be written as the sum of 29 and 89, which come from the pairs 19 and 29, and 79 and 89.

Your question seems to be:
Is it true that for every pair of odd primes p < q with q - p = 4n + 2 that there are r,s with p + 2n + 1 = r + s, where r, s, r + 4n + 2, and one of s ± (4n + 2) are prime?​
or rather whether this is true for large enough p+q.

I find lots of exceptions to this: 48 exceptions with p < q < 100, 1805 exceptions up with p < q < 1000, and 77732 exceptions with p < q < 10000.

Testing code:
Code:
test(p,q)=my(diff=q-p,m=p+diff/2);forprime(r=2,m\2,if(isprime(m-r)&isprime(r+diff)&(isprime(m-r+diff)|isprime(m-r-diff)),return(r)));0
upto(lim)=my(s=0);forprime(p=3,lim,forprime(q=p+2,lim,if((q-p)%4==0,next);if(!test(p,q),print1([p,q]);s++)));s
 

FAQ: Is the Goldbach Conjecture part of a larger pattern?

What is the Goldbach Conjecture?

The Goldbach Conjecture is a famous unsolved problem in number theory, named after mathematician Christian Goldbach. It states that every even number greater than 2 can be expressed as the sum of two prime numbers. For example, 8 = 3 + 5 and 14 = 7 + 7.

Is there any evidence to support the Goldbach Conjecture?

Although the Goldbach Conjecture has been verified for many even numbers, there is no mathematical proof to support it. It remains an open question in mathematics and has been extensively studied by mathematicians for over 270 years.

What is meant by a larger pattern in relation to the Goldbach Conjecture?

Some mathematicians have speculated that the Goldbach Conjecture could be part of a larger pattern or principle in number theory. This means that the conjecture could be connected to other mathematical concepts or theories, providing a deeper understanding of prime numbers and their properties.

What progress has been made in proving the Goldbach Conjecture?

Several mathematicians have made progress towards proving the Goldbach Conjecture, but no one has been able to provide a complete proof. In 2012, mathematician Harald Helfgott made a significant breakthrough by proving a weaker version of the conjecture, known as the "weak" Goldbach Conjecture.

Why is the Goldbach Conjecture important in mathematics?

The Goldbach Conjecture is important because it is a fundamental problem in number theory that has been studied for centuries and remains unsolved. It has also led to the development of new techniques and theories in mathematics, making it an important area of research for mathematicians. Additionally, finding a proof for the Goldbach Conjecture would provide a deeper understanding of prime numbers and their relationships.

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